My big blue typewriter!

Hi fellow typospherians, I can't wait to show y'all the end result of my recent typewriter project: restoring a legendary Royal No.10 typewriter. It has a wide carriage, tabulator keys and is a basketshift. Also, it has an unusual Ts symbol for the erstwhile Chinese currency yinliang/yinyuan, therefore I assume it manufacturered for the Chinese market by the Royal company, kinda special. The whole restoration lasted 2 months. So what did I do to take that long?

To begin with, I removed the old paint. I know that some collectors don't like re-painted typewriters, but I think otherwise --1) the matte finish in black is dull and drab, not to mention the dirt and dust on the old paint and 2) I've always wanted a blue typewriter but nowhere to be found so I decided to paint one by myself. I call it DIY spirit and quintessential self-reliance. I have to admit that the paint job is very amateurish, lacks details, but considering this is the very first time that I have ever painted something so seriously, I'm happy with the result. BTW, The color blue is considered calm and cool , at least in China, that's where I'm from. I'd like to emphasize that info because I'm aware, in the West, blue has negative connotations. Now the machine looks like a supersized blue-black Royal Model P.

Secondly, I made a complete set keyboard inlay stickers by using CAD. Then I had them printed on water-proof plastics. I did try to ply open the keytops so that inlays could be inserted under the glass like most restorers would do. But on this machine, most of the keys are rust from inside therefore stuck, it would be time-consuming to remove them. So to save time as well as save predictable and unpredictable troubles, I adopted a simpler approach: attached a thin layer of plastic directly onto the top of the glass keys. In hindsight, it is not a bad idea because, by so doing, I also add a protective layer for the glass which, if broken accidentally, would be very hard to get replacement in China.

Thirdly, I replaced all four rubber feet. I purchased them from Tony at typewriterstuff.com. They are so high quality. I'm happy with the rubber replacement but it took 2 weeks to arrive and I'm not the patient kind. I did contact JJ shorts for the platen and other rubber parts, but they replied I would have to send them the old platen to US. That is risky as international shipping didn't only take long but parcels could get easily lost especially the pandemic is causing a supply chain chaos in US according to news report. Maybe I will try the shrink tube method later?

I assume this typewriter was made sometime in 1930s as indicated by its serial number S14-88-1630774. But I'm not so sure as I can't find on TWD what did the S14-88 part mean. Any tip? But if my guess is correct, then it is very likely this particular machine had already been in service for several years in one of these office buildings shown in this 1937 photo of Shanghai, in which depicts the famed Bund of Shanghai, a city once dubbed as Paris of the Far East. The Bund is a waterfront financial street which had the highest concentration of foreign trade firms and banks back in the colonial era. This typewriter has an unusual Ts symbol for yinliang or yinyuan, the erstwhile Chinese currency, and hence the high probability.

Royal 10 Carriage clamp issue!

Seems that my typewriter repair skill has made great improvement these days. I saved my Royal 10 today on my own today!

Actually I have had this stately machine for at least 15 years. Man, I simply cannot have enough of Royal 10. They look great and still work great 80 years since they were built.  These machines was made to last forever, quite literally! 

I bought this one from a local antique dealer. But to my  disappointment, it wasn't working properly.  The problem is that the rail on which the carriage moves is fractured.  As I could not find any help back then, I simply glued the broken metal by silica gel. It actually worked, but barely passable.  The carriage wobbles terribly whenever typed on, plus the platen had hardened up, making the whole typewriting not a satisfying experience.   The real reason is because I didn't know how to take off the carriage. So I didn't have much options other than just inject some silica gel to fill up the fracture. 

About half a year ago, I found the navy service manual of old typewriters. It did mention how to take off the carriage. But I didn't dare to try it on Royal 10 until quite recently .  I have successfully restored some other typewriters recently. Obviously, these successes greatly emboldened me. 

The whole process was very smooth. I did everything according to the service manual. After taking off the carriage, a friend of mine, who is a mechanic, welded the broken metal.  It looks like new again! 

Then a new problem crops up.  I dont know how to adjust the five clamps. The service manual didn't elaborate on the clamps, let's say, any theories needed to understand the function of the clamps other than just stablize the carriage.  I need to figure out how to adjust the clamps.  

I might need your help. Any idea on how to position these screws? Should they be in the middle of the slots as shown in this picture, or the upper, or lower positions? The carriage stuck terribly if the clamps are not properly adjusted.  

Thank you.